Michael Middendorf

Michael J. "Mike" Middendorf, age 68 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Mike was devoted to his family, loved by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery with military honors by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Michael Joseph Middendorf was born August 7, 1949 in Melrose, Minnesota to George and Marilynn (Kane) Middendorf. He resided in Sauk Centre his whole life and graduated from Sauk Centre High School. He married LaVonne Graves on May 29, 1972 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Long Prairie, Minnesota. Together they purchased a dairy farm northeast of Sauk Centre where they lived for 32 years and raised their six children. Mike served in the Army National Guard for more than 20 years. He also served his community as a member of the parish council and town board. After selling the family farm, Mike retired from dairy farming and continued to raise beef cattle. He and LaVonne moved to a home on Long Lake in Sauk Centre. Mike loved music of all kinds and traveling to Panama and Mexico.

Mike is survived by his wife, LaVonne Middendorf of Sauk Centre; children, Kimberly Middendorf of St. Paul, Michael Middendorf of Sauk Centre, Jeanne (Jeremy) Kraemer of Melrose, Jonathan (Jessalyn Lindahl) Middendorf of St. Cloud, Annie (Corey) Sorenson of Sauk Centre, and Heidi (Justin) Salo of Shakopee; parents, George and Marilynn Middendorf of Sauk Centre; brother and sisters, Patricia (Robert) Von Wahlde of Melrose, Jim (Myra) Middendorf of Sartell, Donna (John) Broermann of Sauk Centre, and Georgiann (Marty) Primus of Sauk Centre; and eight grandchildren, Madalyn and Molly Kraemer, Brielle and Ethan Middendorf, Parker, Beckham, and Jaeger Sorenson, and Coen Salo.

He was preceded in death by his infant granddaughters, Aubree, Ava, Avery, and Juliana Middendorf.

Serving as casket bearers will be Dustin Middendorf, Matt Von Wahlde, John Tomford, Josh Primus, Jason Broermann, and Jeremy Graves. Cross bearer will be Parker Sorenson and scripture bearer will be Ethan Middendorf. Gift bearers will be Madalyn Kraemer, Molly Kraemer, and Brielle Middendorf. Lectors will be Shane Broermann and Abbi Primus.